Hi All,

I’ve been hosting writing workshops over the last few weeks – to celebrate the launch of Amy Green and because it’s good fun and I love meeting young readers and writers.

Some of their ideas are  brilliant – and they really get the whole story writing thing – the importance of interesting, fun characters, exciting, unusual plots, snappy dialogue etc.

One interesting thing that came up on Thursday evening in Clondalkin library - and I think this may be useful for adults too – and forgive me if I’ve talked about it before – dialogue tags. He said, she said; he shouted – or, if you were to do it the way some teachers like it – he said quietly, she said loudly; he shouted loudly . . .

I love Roddy Doyle’s book, Wilderness. The dialogue is brilliant. And it has very few dialogue tags – only those needed to clarify who is speaking.

My first few books are littered with ‘she said gently’, ‘he said passionately’ – I’ve learned by reading other writers’ work.

Even now I still have a lot to learn but I’m getting there, slowly. Inching closer and closer to writing the best book I can.

Writing – what a funny old business. The more the write, the more you learn.

Check out some of the children’s great stories on www.askamygreen.com in The Goss blog. Yes, I have two blogs now – yikes!

Sarah X